i run a 1x9 setup, 36t in the front, on the trails I ride, i never had use for my 44t except for rare occassions and i never dropped down into the granny ring, i always was able to climb and whatever else with 32t in the middle so when i went with a 1 ring set up i chose 36 to give a little more top end and chose a 12-34 cassette to occomdate for the loss of granny gear, now it's perfect

I think I did my answer, except that I ride all kinds in all conditions but mostly aggressive xc, in post 13.

Is there a bash guard that will accomodate three rings?

yes. blackspire makes a couple. they're one of the few companies i know that make them.

3 rings for hilly terrain, 2 rings for a bash guard, 1 ring to rule them all... ok that was dumb i'm not a nerd i swear. ok maybe i am a nerd, but not a big LOTR fan.. i have 3 on mine, i'm mostly in the middle one but i like going fast on downhills and on roads so i use the biggun sometimes, and i'm about 200lbs and not in great shape so the granny gear is there when i need it. oh and i have bad ankles so i can't hike-a-bike very far.

I would love to get a bash guard i just use my third gear way to much. If it ever gets too beat up ill replace it with a bash guard, also im sick of it ripping my pants.

Yep, looks like exactly what I am looking for. Thanks Rasheed. Can anyone help me with the bolt pattern? I have a 44T, 4 bolt Tuvativ Trushift. Came stock on my GT.

Blackspire XC Guards are 305g’s of rock crackin’ heavy metal!

• Made to protect the BIG RING from hazardous riding conditions
• 1/2” Thick Aluminum, this is the BEEFIEST chainring protector out there!
• The big ring protector is mounted on the outside to cover all three rings.
• Available in 5 BCD’s
• 104, 94, 94sugino fit 42t – 44t rings
• 110, 112 fit 44t – 46t rings

you can have a bash guard and a 3rd ring. see scavenger's post. i would get one but i mostly ride in shorts, don't mind chainring tatoos, and i rarely hit stuff with my big ring, and when i do its just a fallen log, very very rarely do i hit rocks.

I think I got it. 104MM CTC diagonally.

I agree 100%

I'm a XC rider and the only thing the big ring ever did was slow me down on the 100 log crossings I deal with. Bashguard = smooth fast riding over log crossings.

2 rings since i never used the big one. now there's some piece of plastic with "e thirteen" on it.

1 ring...cuz I'm ripped as hell!!

I use to have that Blackspire Big Ring Protector you guys are talking about a LONG time ago. I guess it was good but it was metal soo....not that good.

1 on both my sleds:

-that bike now has blinger wheels and blinger pedals and a smokin sexy clear red e13 bashgaurd-

the other bike is in transit... Spec. P3

HOLYCRAP!!!!!!!! haha yeah sry bout that pic... hahahah

I run mine with what it came with, 22, 32, 42 on the front... but 28 is my largest cog on the back.. so I need the granny as I ride ATV trails with some steep hills. The big one is good for long downills and the road, at times it can leave a nice looking mark on some logs.

1 up front one in the rear with the mtb, 1 up front 1 with the rear with the roadie

Three rings, used all three today on the dirt.

One Ring to ride them all
One Ring to climb them
One Ring to bring them all
and in the singletrack bind them

I like 3 rings...2 rings....and one ring.... just happen to have 3 is all.

1 ring + E-13 bash + E-13 SRS = perfection...

On the singlespeed - 1 ring [32T]
On the geared bike - 3 rings [42-32-22 I think]

The SS wouldn't be a SS with more than one ring. I use it as my winter commuter and for Fish Creek singletrack. My goal is to do Sulphur Springs on it one day, but I don't know how I'd ever maintain traction. Mad Skillz, perhaps?

The geared bike goes anywhere I want it to. I use the middle and granny a fair bit, since I spend a lot of time grinding up technical climbs. Most of the places I ride can't be shuttled, so all the gears get worked.

I did some riding around Seattle and in the Hood River area back in October. I noticed that almost every trail involves some sort of heinous fire road trudge. I've never seen so much crappy gravel road in my life! Why are so many trails like that? Around here, most trails are loops, and can usually be done in either direction. It's seldom that a ride will start or finish on any kind of road, although there are occaionally road sections in the middle. Discuss!

Because you were off the lonesome high prairie and in God's country - - where there are mountains. Ya gotta go up to enjoy the ride down. Seriously, though, I'm trying to plan out a Spring Pacific Northwest Forum Ride that'll give you a better taste of our area. Stay tuned.

To our OP - 2 rings and a bash for general trail riding - - because I usually don't need the big; one big ring/bash/chain guide for DH because I have to to keep the chain under control. Ring's got to be pretty big for some of the real fast ski slope courses, though I think I'm going down to a 38t next season. It'll work better in my guide and it should be tall enough for most courses.

Based on your comments, I'm going to assume you've never been riding around here. Yes, we too have mountains, and we go up to get down. However, our climbs are typically on singletrack. Perhaps you've heard of it...

Giving you a bad time, pinkrobe Shucks, you guys have the real thing - the Rockies. I do want to get up there.

I'm going to insist on going up on my station's (KSPS) next event up there and DRIVING up (so I can take the bike). Besides your 'real' singletrack, have you ridden much at C.O.P.? It looks fun from the trailer I saw on their web site. Not a lot of vertical, but it looks like they make good use of it.

I just received a Black Spire big ring protector. It is the proper part but the replacement threaded bolts are 2-3mm too long and a fraction too small diameter for the existing nuts. Any suggestions as to where might I find alternate fasteners?